When Jesuits were masters of the word: rethoric in accordance with the ratio studiorum

<p>Drawing upon the Ratio Studiorum of the Society of Jesus, the article shows<br />that Jesuit High Schools teaching of rhetoric aimed at the eloquentia perfecta, and<br />that such goal was achieved by integrating the five parts of the classical rhetorical<br />program. Jesuit sources on Rhetoric attest the highly relevant role of rhetoric for public life. Far from being a merely academic exercise on the argumentation technique or on literary theory, the shape that Rhetoric takes in such sources is rather one where its social usefulness is consciously enhanced.